Pavement



(umd-e1.) W.V D. RICHARDSON.

PAVEMENT.

Patented May 9; 1882.

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"UNITED STATES *PATENT Farce.

` WILLIAM' D. RICHARDSON, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. i I

PAVEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pate-nt No. 257,613, dated May 9, 1882.

Application filed March E29, 1882.

(No modul.)

` To all whom tzt-may concern:

Be it known that I, WiLLIAM D. RICHARD SON, of Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented a new and usef'ul Improvement in Pavemeuts, whichimprovement is fullyset forth in the following specification. l

This invention relates to pavementsfor the roadways or streets of cities and towns, and hasforits object to providea pavement which shall be easily constructed, durable inuse, and

capable of beinglaid in localities where the ordinary paving materials are diiicult to procure.

Theiuvention is specially applicable tolocalities which have a soft and loamy soil, free from sand, and therefore difficult to pack, and which, by reason of its spon gy nature and the geological formation of the ground, is at certain seasons ot the year saturated with moisture and at others very hard and dry, and upon which, for all these reasons, it is extremely diticult to construct a pavement which will not soon give way in places and present an uneven surface.

In thepresent invention the pavement is laid so as to be in effect selfsustaining, so as not to be affected by depressions in the soil below,

p it being laid in the form of an arch, continuous from one curb to the other. It is also made impervious to moisture.

The manner oflaying the pavement is as follows: -The surface of the road-bed being properly prepared, in the usual manner, by rolling or ramming, and made in the form of an arch, a continuous layer ct' asphalt or similar materialsuch as a water-procfcement-islaid from one curb to the other to a depth of from one to three inches. Upon the surface thus formed is placed a layer of brick laid Hatwise and as close together as possible. Another similar layer of asphalt or cement is laid above this course of brick. 'lhe layer of brick thus iuclosed between twolayers of cement presents a structure which is practically self-sustainin g, as it forms an arch springing from the curbs on each side ofthe street, and therefore is notliable to be affected inj uriouslyby the yielding nature of the soil below. As the weight to be supported is distributed over a large surface, the pavement being a continuous structure, it is obvious that it can be applied directly to the earth -surface, and that even a very soft and spongy soil will be capable of sustaining it. Upon the top layer of asphalt orlcemient is laid the final course of brick, whichl constitutes the pavement proper. In this layer the bricks are laid sidewise, so that the width of theV brick constitutes the thickness of the layer, and, as in the lower course, the bricks are placed close together, so as to leave little or practically no space between them. Such interstiees as necessarily remain may bc filled with sand, if dcsired, the sand being spread upon the surface and left to pack itself in the joints.

The invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawngs,wh ich form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view, and Fig. 2 a vertical cross-section, of a pavement laid in accordance with the invention.

A represents the natural soil or earth upon which the pavement is laid. Its surface is arched from curb to curb and packed by ramming or rolling to render it as hard and solid as the nature ofthe soil will permit. Upon the surface thus prepared is placed a layer, B, of asphalt or a suitable water-proofcement-such as hydraulic cement. Upon the surface of the asphalt or cement is next laid a flat course ot' bricks,G, placed inlclose contact with each other,

so as to forni apractically-continuous arch from one curb to the o ther, and preferably laid so as to break joints, as well understood. A second layer, D, of asphalt or cement is now applied to the surface of the course of brick (Land, finally, above it is laid atop course of brick, E. The bricks in course E are laid as in the lower course, so as to make tight joints and tol or gravel; or simply alayer of sand may be spread upon the surface and 'permitted to work its way into the interstices between the bricks.

It will be readily understood that a pavement 'thus constructed will form a solid self- IOO sustaining structure, in which the weight will be distributed over a large surface, and which is therefore independent of the character ot' the earth foundation, so that although the latter may be liable to inequalities of surface, as from accession of moisture or from other cause, such changes cannot affect the form or durability of the pavement, nor can any moisture penetrate it either from above or below. It will be seen, moreover, that from the nature of the materials employed the pavement is peculiarly adapted to localities where sand, stone, and gravel, which usually enter largely into the construction of pavements, are scarce and costly.

The foundation for the final course ot' brick, whichcomprises the upper and lower layers of asphalt or cement and the inclosed layer ot' brick, may be found applicable as a foundation forother than a brick pavement or surface, as it presents a continuous sel t`sustaining structure and can be applied directly to the earth surface, even where the soil is of a nature to furnish but little support, without the usual foundation of sand, gravel, or crushed rock commonly employed.

Having now fully described my said invention and the manner of carrying the same into eiect, what I claim is- 1. Apavementforstreets and roadways, comprising brick and asphalt or similar material in alternate courses, laid in the form of an arch, with the ends resting on the curbstones, substantially as described.

2. A pavement consisting of 'a bottom layer of asphalt, cement, or similar material, a course of brick, a second layer of asphalt or cement, and a top course of brick, the whole forming an arch, ot which the curbstones are the abutments, substantially as described.

3. In a pavement, the combination ofthe bottom layer of asphalt, cement, or similar material, the intermediate course of brick, laid tlatwise and with tight joints, the second layerof asphalt, cement, or similar material, and the top course of brick, laid sidewise, as explained, and also with tight joints, the whole forming an arch, resting on the curbstones, substantially as described.

4. As a foundation for a pavement for streets and roadways, an arched course of brick laid close together' and inclosed between two layers of asphalt, cement, or similar material, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI have signed this specitication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

W. l). RICHARDSON. Vitnesses:

A. PoLLoK,

PHILrP MAURO. 

